THE STORY OF THE ANTELOPE. 
263 
tions, and so they and their ancestors for untold generations have had no 
occasion to overleap high obstructions, and thus from disuse they do not 
know how to do it. 
If a prong-buck on the plains desires to cross the railroad track, when 
alarmed by the cars, as is sometimes the case, he will strain every muscle 
to outrun the train and cross ahead of it, as if he suspected a purpose to. cut 
him off from crossing; and thus many an exciting race has been witnessed 
between muscle and steam. When excited during its gambols with its fel¬ 
lows, or by the emotions of rage or fear, the appearance of the prong-buck 
PRONG-BUCK, OR AMERICAN ANTELOPE. 
alters considerably. On such occasions the hair of the white patch on the 
rump rises up on each side of the backbone, and remains as erect and stiff as 
bristles. 
There are many stories about the great distance that ostriches can see, 
but the ostrich is near-sighted when compared with the American antelope. 
I have never had any difficulty in getting within two hundred yards of an 
ostrich under favorable conditions, but during my early experienee I never 
got closer than six hundred yards to an American antelope. Even at that 
distance the animal was wide awake and fully able to take care of itself. 
